[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7742-7743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2317]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011901B]


Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of an application for a scientific research permit 1275 
and 1276.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following actions regarding 
permits for takes of endangered and threatened species for the purposes 
of scientific research and/or enhancement: NMFS has received a 
scientific research permit application from Mr. Joseph Hightower, of 
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (NCCFWRU) 
(1275)and from Mr. Jay Holder, of Florida Fish and Wildlife 
Conservation Commission (FFWCC) (1276).

DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on any of the new 
applications or modification requests must be received at the 
appropriate address or fax number no later than 5 p.m. eastern standard 
time on February 26, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on any of the new applications or 
modification requests should be sent to the appropriate office as 
indicated below. Comments may also be sent via fax to the number 
indicated for the application or modification request. Comments will 
not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. The 
applications and related documents are available for review in the 
indicated office, by appointment:
    For permits 1275, 1276: Office of Protected Resources, Endangered 
Species Division, F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (ph: 301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (ph: 
301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376, e-mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    Issuance of permits and permit modifications, as required by the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on 
a finding that such permits/modifications: (1) are applied for in good 
faith; (2) would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species 
which are the subject of the permits; and (3) are consistent with the 
purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Authority to 
take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. 
Permits and modifications are issued in accordance with and are subject 
to the ESA and NMFS regulations governing listed fish and wildlife 
permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    Those individuals requesting a hearing on an application listed in 
this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that 
application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES). The holding of such 
hearing is at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA. All statements and opinions contained in the permit 
action summaries are those of the applicant and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of NMFS.

Species Covered in This Notice

    The following species and evolutionarily significant units (ESU's) 
are covered in this notice:

Fish

    Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

New Applications Received

    Application 1275: The applicant proposes to conduct a two year 
survey of the Nuese River to prepare a baseline study of the possible 
existance of shortnose sturgeon in the river. The research will use the 
NMFS sampling protocols for determining presence or absence of 
shortnose sturgeon in a selected river. The goals of the study are to 
determine whether shortnose sturgeon are present within the Nuese River 
system, and to determine if suitable shortnose sturgeon habitat is 
available within the river system.
    Application 1276: The applicants propose to conduct an absence/
presence study for shortnose sturgeon in the St. John River, Florida. 
Shortnose sturgeon were last reported in the system in the 1970s and 
1980s. The primary objective of the study is to determine the existing 
population level of shortnose sturgeon within the river system. The 
applicant will use the NMFS approved sampling prototcols for a 
presence/absence study. Obtaining an estimate of shortnose sturgeon 
numbers will allow resource partners to implement the secondary 
objective whereby other recovery plan strategies for the species can 
proceed.


[[Page 7743]]


    Dated: January 19, 2000.
Margaret Lorenz,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-2317 Filed 1-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S